Royal Library of Belgium

The Royal Library of Belgium stands in central Brussels on the Mont des Arts, a gentle rise above the city’s main railway station. Its modern building, completed in 1969, houses the national collection alongside the historic Library of the Dukes of Burgundy. The library’s origins trace back to the 15th century, when the Dukes of Burgundy assembled one of Europe’s finest manuscript collections. Philip II of Spain gathered these volumes in Brussels in 1559, creating the Royal Library of the Low Countries. After fires, wars and transfers, the collection returned and grew, culminating in the present institution. The library’s holdings are vast and varied. It preserves around 32,000 manuscripts, including illuminated works by Simon Marmion and the Master of Mary of Burgundy. The Prints & Drawings Department alone contains more than 750,000 works on paper, placing it among the world’s leading print rooms. Among its treasures are drawings by Bruegel the Elder, Rubens and Rembrandt, alongside Japanese ukiyo-e and early Congolese watercolours. The Center for American Studies also offers 30,000 books and extensive newspaper files. Visitors enter a calm space designed for study and research. The KBR Museum displays the ducal library’s manuscripts in a permanent exhibition, while reading rooms hold modern printed books and digital records. The building’s architecture frames views over the city’s rooftops and the nearby Palace of Justice. Outside, the Mont des Arts gardens provide a quiet place to rest after exploring the collections.